The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't had a good track record lately when it comes to the offensive coordinator role. Stints from Randy Fichtner and Matt Canada were mostly disastrous, and the play-calling from Canada was so bad that the organization made a rare in-season fire in 2023. The hope is that newly-named Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith can do more than just ramp up firepower. He needs to find a way to get Kenny Pickett's career started as the quarterback enters in third professional season.
Pittsburgh's most reliable signal-caller since Ben Roethlisberger retired was Mason Rudolph at the end of the 2023 campaign. That's not a recipe for success in the NFL, especially since the legendary quarterback hung up his cleats after the 2021 season. Fans would love to see Roethlisberger potentially on the sidelines in the future as a coach, but don't hold your breath.
The future Hall of Famer joined a former teammate of his, Bruce Gradkowski, on the Alpha 5 Method podcast. The two discussed numerous topics, and when the idea of Roethlisberger coaching in the NFL came up, the former quarterback wasn't quick to say that he wouldn't be entertaining that possibility anytime soon.
"I don't know. People ask me all the time. Obviously, I was big talk this year, [the possibility of] being the coordinator and all that in Pittsburgh. But, I stopped playing. One of the reasons I stopped playing was to spend more time with my family. And I tell [my son] Benjamin, he's always like, 'Dad, you need to go back and be a coach.' And I'm like, 'Buddy, do you realize that coaching takes more time than playing?' It's a lot of time."
One of the main reasons for any professional athlete to retire, other than age and their body giving in, is to spend more time with their family. Roethlisberger's situation is no different and it doesn't seem like he's ready or willing to let go of his current situation.
Roethlisberger blatantly stated that he's far away from even considering taking a coaching job. He is enjoying what he is doing now ever since his retirement a couple of years ago.
"I don't see it anytime soon just because I enjoy what I'm doing now. I enjoy being with family. I enjoy being able to go golf with my son wherever he wants or go hunting, or do whatever. And so, I don't see anything in the near future at least, in that realm," Roethlisberger said.
The Steelers' legend did mention that he's had fun coaching a fifth-grade football team, but that appears as close as he is going to get anytime soon to taking a job as a coach. There's no guarantee one of those professional opportunities would come up in Pittsburgh, either. He has lived there since his early playing days, which may lead to him only accepting a job if the perfect situation comes up in the Steel City at some point in time.
Steelers Hoping Smith Figures Out Offensive Woes
A lot of focus has shifted towards Smith and what he will do with Pittsburgh's offense. Roethlisberger won't be on the sideline calling plays, so it's a moot point to imagine him as the offensive coordinator. There are plenty of weapons Smith will have at his disposal and he will have to figure out what Canada couldn't. Using the play-makers properly could make for a completely different unit with Pickett emerging as the top-tier quarterback they envisioned he'd be when he was drafted.
Do you ever wish Roethlisberger would consider coming to coach in Pittsburgh?
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